The wait is over; Dexter has officially returned to the small screen with Showtime’s Dexter: Original Sin. The new series is one of many spin-offs from Showtime’s original show, Dexter, which follows a blood spatter analyst named Dexter who has a dark secret: he’s a serial killer. This prequel series, centered around Dexter’s origins, immediately picks up after the events that occurred in Dexter: New Blood, and fans learn how Dexter survived. Fans briefly see Michael C. Hall, who plays Dexter, appear as he passes the torch to Patrick Gibson, who plays young Dexter, in this origin story. Hall will still be involved in the project as the narrator, but fans can rest easy as Gibson has proven himself to be a worthy successor in the series premiere.
While some elements in this episode were a bit predictable, like any spin-off series, Gibson’s performance truly stood out and did Hall’s performance justice. Gibson captures Hall’s essence in this version of the character and builds the foundation of the character fans see in the original series. Several moments throughout the premiere demonstrate Gibson’s efforts to imitate Hall’s mannerisms and other minute details that create nostalgia for viewers. Still, the scene that demonstrated this the most was during Dexter’s first kill. From the iconic plastic wrapping to Dexter himself, this scene proved Gibson can handle the iconic role and live up to Hall’s legacy in this franchise.

Your changes have been saved

Dexter: Original Sin

Release Date

December 15, 2024

Seasons

1

A Scene That Continues the Bloody Legacy in ‘Dexter: Original Sin’

The premiere of Season 1 of Dexter: Original Sin successfully sets up the premise of Dexter learning to master his urges through the guidance of his adoptive father, Harry Morgan (Christian Slater), to fully develop as the character seen in the original hit series. The original show briefly touched on Dexter’s first homicidal experience, and this show expanded on that scene and provided Gibson with the opportunity to show his potential as the infamous character. From his voice to his body language, Gibson manages to honor Hall’s incredible work, especially during the scene where Dexter kills Nurse Mary.
As many fans know, Dexter is a vigilante serial killer, and Nurse Mary, also known as the “Angel of Death,” was his first step in becoming The Bay Harbor Butcher. The serial killer targets Nurse Mary after he discovers she’s been killing patients and his father, who suffered a heart attack, is the next victim on her list. Before acting on his urges, Dexter seeks guidance from his father, who ultimately gives him his blessings to “stop” her.
The next few shots show Dexter preparing the scene of the crime with plastic wrap as a way to prevent any evidence from being traced back to him. As an inexperienced killer, Dexter closes his eyes while he’s killing the nurse and later disposes of her body in an alligator-infested swamp. The scene itself of Dexter in a plastic-wrapped setting and Gibson’s acting takes viewers back and makes them feel as if they’re watching the original television series — a truly stellar performance on Gibson’s part.
Patrick Gibson Has Michael C. Hall’s Stamp of Approval

Taking on this iconic role is no easy feat for Gibson, and fans of the original Showtime series will be watching him closely as the season progresses. Gibson, however, can rest easy after his predecessor, Hall, gave his performance and the series his stamp of approval. During the Paramount+ panel at 2024 CCPX in Brazil (via Screen Rant), Gibson recalled the time Hall proudly gave his blessing to this spin-off show and praised Gibson’s portrayal of the beloved character.

“He passed the baton to me… he said that he was liking everything he saw when we did the table read and that was a big relief.”

Related

‘Dexter: Resurrection’ Showrunner Reveals When We Can See the Unexpected New Sequel

‘Dexter’ fans have a lot to look forward to in 2025.

Hall gave his approval as an actor and executive producer of the show, which must’ve lifted a weight off of the cast’s shoulders, especially Gibson’s as the actor playing the titular character. The 29-year-old Irish actor was tasked with continuing Hall’s legacy and reimagining flashbacks Hall had tackled in Dexter, adding more pressure to his already full plate.
An example would be the Nurse Mary murder scene. A flashback sequence had taken place in the original show, so fans already had a visual of how that event played out, and this event was a critical part of the prequel’s story of showing the audience how Dexter got to be who he is by the time they met him in the original show. It’s never an easy thing to recreate something that has already been done and put your spin on it, but Gibson did a wonderful job of showcasing his ability as an actor to capture Hall’s essence while also making the scene his.
It’s (Hopefully) Only Up From Here with ‘Dexter: Original Sin’

Even though the series has just premiered, Gibson’s portrayal appears to be promising as the season progresses. His young Dexter has thus far managed to build a bridge from this iteration of the character to the character played by Hall in the show that started it all. Whether that bridge will hold remains to be seen, but Gibson’s performance has created intrigue within the loyal fanbase to see how his portrayal lives up to Hall’s spectacular acting and portrayal of the character. Dexter: Original Sin is streaming on Showtime through Paramount+.